Concern after water pours down road 'for 10 months'

Blocked drains have left water pouring down a road for 10 months and caused homes to become damp, a parish council claimed.

Those living on Grove Hill, in Stansted Mountfitchet, said the conditions had led to potholes being created in the village which residents had tried to repair themselves.

Essex Highways said the problem was a “utility issue” while Affinity water said gullies blocked by roadworks was a "significant contributor".

However, Essex Highways said it would close the road for repairs but not before 15 July. It warned the water leak had caused the road to disintegrate across its entire width.

Residents attempted to fill in the potholes with tarmac themselves but the endless stream of water had continued to wash it away.

A letter from the parish council to Conservative MP for Saffron Walden, Kemi Badenoch, said cars were being damaged.

"The water leak on Grove Hill is causing serious problems to residents living along the road as well as to drivers who have to use this route," it read.

The parish council said there had been a water leak for 10 months and complaints had been made about it causing dampness in properties.

In a letter, from Affinity Water to Essex county councillor Ray Gooding, the former said gullies had been blocked by roadworks and this was a "significant contributor" to the flooding.

"Despite our efforts in reporting these blockages, the necessary cleaning has not been effectively carried out," it added.

However, Essex Highways said it believed the problem was a “utility issue” given the water continued running even when weather conditions were dry.

Affinity Water was contacted for an updated comment by the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

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